Every now and then, we all get inspired by reading or watching people around us who have achieved great things, sometimes beyond imagination. That is wonderful and we celebrate the moment. We leave that page with a sense of awe. But that’s it, we leave that page. How many of us would act on the inspiration and get going? What does the inspiration do for you other than the feel-good feeling?

When was the last time you were inspired and used that inspiration to fuel the energy in you to do likewise? How has that inspiration transpired? What transformed?

Just last month, my dad who has slight difficulties in walking started exercising. It has been a long drawn plan to get him to exercise. I am not sure what finally sparked that other than under doctor’s advice, but he finally took the step to use the equipments at a lush exercise corner, a stone’s throw from where he lives.

One day when we were walking home from the train station, he said he wanted to exercise. He invited me to come and see the various exercise equipments and even demonstrated how to use them. He urged me to have a go. I was both amazed and amused by his enthusiasm. It has been months, no, I should say years that he did some active exercising.

I asked him what was the outcome of the exercises. He replied gleefully that his legs do not hurt anymore and he now walks pretty well. It was easy to see where his motivation was coming from that he is now a regular feature at the exercise park! I was inspired by him and told him there is a small gym where I live. He encouraged me to go try it out when I got home.

So the journey began with the buying of new sports shoes and within a week, me, the gym novice decided it was my call to action. I prefer exercising outdoors but in this blustery, cold winter season, the balmy indoors was a big draw. I started slow and easy and by the third visit was ready to charge. The fourth visit confirmed my eagerness to return to the stationery bike, paddling away to happiness. The after effects of exercise need not be said, I not only have a feeling of accomplishment but was also invigorated.

My father has been an inspiration to me on many counts and this recent one where I emulated his example to exercise at the gym is the latest of being transformed after being inspired.

It is with great sadness to learn that Singapore’s first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away peacefully this morning at 3.18am. Though I come across many world leaders and famous people who have died from the late Princess Diana to Nelson Mandela to Malcolm Fraser, reading about their great work and good deeds, none has come closer to my life that Mr Lee. Having lived in Singapore under his prime ministership, the people in Singapore have witnessed the change in a little red dot to a prosperous nation it is today.

Leaders have their strengths and weaknesses and in many cases it is through their strengths that things happen. Mr Lee was no exception. He was a leader with foresight and with his vision for transformation, the blueprints were made real. Even at that time, some ideas looked far fetch and radical, yet it was for the better. Great leaders show compassion and relate to the people; Mr Lee interacted with the commoners, led with his head and heart.

Mr Lee was a leader of leaders. He had a team of old guards who together worked to discuss, debate and sought to bring a better life than poverty to the people. Their problem solving skills were put to the test and with courage and perseverance, got day-to-day issues sorted out and moved from firefighting mode to one of innovation.

Taking a leaf out of history, reflecting on leadership, what have you learnt from Mr Lee? What kind of leader are you today? What kind of leader will you be tomorrow? Are you courageous enough to take the risks and stand out to be counted? Will you take the bold step from your comfort zone and lead the pack? Do you realise your dreams with actions? What difference will you make? What legacy are you leaving?

Thank you, Mr Lee for what you have done in nation building. As the people on the little red dot grieve, we bid farewell to a world class leader. Good-bye Mr Lee and may you rest in peace.

December seems to be the favourite month of the year for many people I know. Oh well, of course second to their birth months. That puts them into a relaxing mood with the year winding down and festivities round the corner. The gift giving and merry making brings the season to a crescendo. No wonder December is a hot favourite.

Gift exchange is a big thing among friends, family members and colleagues. Some live in a quandary thinking of what to buy, sticking to a reasonable budget and others are pressed for time, having to get them wrapped before the exchange takes place.

Needless to say, gift giving spins the whole retail business which begins in late October even before November sets in. It seems to get earlier and earlier. But hold it, what is the true meaning of giving beyond material comforts?

My favourite quote on giving comes from Mother Teresa: “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” That rings true when we spend time searching for the most appropriate item, thinking of what the person needs or wants. In these days where de-cluttering is in, we do not want gifts that add to the pile.

Some gifts are so simple that the love shines through and has nothing to do with the monetary value but the emotions that comes with it. Time and patience to get that gift sums it up, not to mention the delightful smile, a reward for a gift so befitting. This brings on the next quote: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” ― Amy Wilson-Carmichael

When we truly give, not merely in things but also in time, thoughts and love, we experience a deeper sense of the meaning. The last quote from St Francis of Assisi sums it up, “For it is in giving that we receive.”

Thus spare a thought for the gifts you are about to give and receive, sit back and enjoy the true meaning of giving.

Change. What does it mean? According to the dictionary, it says, “to transform, to convert”. The dictionary continues with its verb form, changing to mean “to become different or to be altered or modified.” How do you see change?

Change can be a scary word to some. It brings on the unknown and at times fear sets in for the unexpected, the inability to control the situation. Some find it unsettling and even put a negative connotation to it.

Change can also be welcomed. A move in position, a substitute for something, a change of scene, a break from the norm. A whole new dimension or a shift in gear.

Change – so what meaning does it hold for you? Do you embrace or flee from it? What changes have taken place in your life? Are you in the same old regime day in and out? Are you doing the same job as you did for years? Is your fashion style or even hair style/make-up the same as it was in the last 2-3 years? Are you only hanging out with the same circle of people? Have you tried a different route to work/school/home …? Are you reading books of the same category or author?

Change can open doors. Though it has its risks, it is also a new beginning, a movement from one plane to another, a breath of fresh air. It need not be big, it can be small. Some people are willing to make changes in one area but not another. For instance they take a different vacation each year but fall into the same routine daily, living the same way as they did for years. Some changes have have a profound effect that transforms a person or situation. Are you willing to take the chance to try something different? Do you allow yourself to be flexible and open to changes? If moving on/forward/side way means a better you, a better tomorrow, will you take that first step? Think of what the future looks or feels like with change, even if it is subtle. What opportunities await you?

Change can be accidental or planned. Which is yours? Are you your greatest change agent?

So ask yourself today: Are you up to the same old tricks or would you like a new treat? What changes do you want in your life? The options are yours: trick or treat?

Today while I was looking at pins on Pinterest, I came across an interesting quote, “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” When we get bogged down with the humdrum of daily living, doing the same old, same old, and it becomes a predictable routine. Where does that lead us to?

For the past several weeks, I have been inundated with new projects. On the surface, they looked easy. But having gone through the initial steps, I realised there was more than meets the eye. There were areas I needed to update and in other areas to learn new stuff.

I set upon looking out for relevant courses to attend since I am back in Melbourne where creativity is embraced. The classes fitted my schedule and there, off I went. One weekend was spent on an “Introduction to Drawing” class, something I have always wanted to do. At the start of the class, I was kind of anxious; my mind was filled with uncertainty. I did not know what to expect. I have never been properly taught how to draw and now is the time to pick that up. The art teacher was amazing and very encouraging, make learning a breeze. Using new media and playing with materials was liberating. By the end of the class, the progress made within that few hours was obvious … well, it was bad to start with in the first place! Both the teacher and I were pleased with the results and I walked out on cloud 9.

The second class was an evening workshop on bridal floristry. This was more like an update session for me. Filled with anticipation, I entered the class to be greeted by the owner of the shop. Her creativity was apparent in the way her shop was presented. We wasted no time getting started with warm up activities and then moved on to the more serious stuff. The techniques picked up in getting the floral arrangement together were great and before we knew it, by the end of the session, we had beautifully arranged a bridal bouquet, corsage and boutonniere. Everyone was in high spirits, having achieved the skills to make such pretty things. We were unabashed raving at our own creations.

As I reflected upon the past weeks, I was glad I went for the classes pushed on by necessity for the projects I was engaged to do as a consultant. It was time I did new things that broke the routine. It added value to me both professionally and personally. Two items to tick off my bucket list. For the next six months, I shall be looking at things to do for the first time, something new. It is a path untrodden and may bring uncertainties but well worth exploring. It means stepping out of my comfort zone.The experience releases a newness within and looking at things with fresh eyes.

So when was the last time you did something for the first time? Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone? Will you taking for first step to doing that soon?

When we meet friends whom we have not seen for a long time, we often ask, “How are you?” with a concern on their well being. The most frequent answer heard, “I have been busy.” Everyone seems busy … all the time. I hardly get to meet someone who is relatively free. People are occupied all the time, almost like 24/7 and if you are out free, you stand out and people wonder what have you wasted your time on!

How do we make time? Can time be made? Are we ahead or behind it? We often run out of it. We lose it. Yet we are given 24hours each, rich or poor, it is the same dose every day. What you make out of it is really up to you. How you want to stretch it depends on your creativity. It can go to waste, too.

What meaning do you attach to time? Is time of value to you? To the businessman, time is money. To an Olympic runner, a mere few seconds make a great difference to the gold medal. To a child, getting to the destination seems like hours. To the cancer patient, every day is a miracle. Time is precious. The clock ticks on where time and tide waits for no man. True.

As the world spins, time slips out as in an hourglass. Are you time tight? How do you manage your time? Or does it manage you? Look around you. Do you see pockets of time you could use? The waiting time, the lull periods, the in-betweens? What do you do?

Clever usage of time needs to be planned. Having designated blocks of time to get things done is one way. Focusing on priorities and giving it the important time slots mean we get key things out of the way. That includes things we dread to do.

To get some extra time, I started off today by waking up an hour earlier. There was much I could do and I did. Things that were put on the back burner came out first and completed in a shorter time frame than I expected. I was elated. I did things faster than I usually do and the change in schedule made the difference because the routine was re-routed and I did things on a fresh footing. That helped.

When we do things we love, we get immersed and time cease to exist. It flies through the window. We are in the time zone. The danger comes when we do not know when to stop as the enjoyment gets exhilarating. That accounts for us being late, delayed work in other aspects, missed deadlines and pushing things back. We need to take a step back to re-focus.

Having a planner to craft out the time zones for work and play makes a lot of sense and yet most people do not do it. Use a planner to see where your time went to and how you can make the most of it. Look at it and ask: Are there things you could cut down? Are there things you could increase? Are there things you can do away or delegate?

It takes effort to make changes and save time when you can. Do you want to do it? What do you see as the end result of having it done? Does it motivate you sufficiently to have the change? It all comes back to the meaning you attach to time. If it is important enough to you, the change will be made. Be time wise.

The sun beckons me to be outdoors on a glorious winter Saturday. I looked and am tempted. But there is still work to be done and deadlines to meet. Goodness, it’ a Saturday, I told myself.

First things first, review what needs to be done, then prioritise for the day. As it is a Saturday, the aim was to keep the work as light as possible and easy enough, almost like a non-work situation. That cheered me up with my favourite music in the background.

The stuff I embarked on are really preparation work required for my training classes. That included cutting out templates of colour swatches for a visual styling class, looking through the magazines, filing the tear sheets, scanning in pictures and taking photographs of objects. Now that does not sound like work, does it? Yet, they still have to be done.

Guess what? I worked through the few projects with gusto and enjoyed every minute of it, doing what I love most in the creativity department. The sunny day will wait for a while and when I am through, I head for the outdoors.

So working on a sunny Saturday is not that bad after all. Keeping the light stuff for a rainy day, no I mean for a sunny play day. In fact it was therapeutic, working with my hands to complete some tasks and letting the light in to warm up the room. : )